Outboard motor attachment



l. A. DALY May 27, 1941.

Filed July 21, 1939 Patented May 27, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DUTBOAID K010i. Anm

my A. Daly. Chicago. m.

Application July zi, 1li. BerlalNc. 285,671

c claims. (CI. t-l) Thil invention relates toan attachment for le upon so-called outboard or portable marine the bottom of the usually small lakes, rivers tbelikebodimwateronwhich they are medifthelostmotorcanbelocateditisa matter to locate such a lost motor once motors an med. v

Accordingly, it is a primary object of the presait invention to provide a relatively simple, 1nexpensive and emcient device for attachment to an outboard motor and by means of which such a motor may readily be located in the event that it becomes torn loose or otherwise separated from the boat on which it is mounted and sinks to the bottom of the lake, river or other relatively small body of water on which outboard motor boats are commonly used.

Another object of the present invention is to construct the new device in such a manner that it may be used not only to locate a lost or sunken outboard motor but also to retrieve or recover the same.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists in the Anovel combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter ucrlbed and claimed.

'nie invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawing showing the preferred form of construction, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a view partly in section and partly in aide elevation showing a typical embodiment of the present invention attached to an outboard motor which, in turn, is shown as being attached totherearwall of a small boat;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary top plan view, partly in section, online 2-2 in Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a view partly in vertical section and vpartly in side elevation; and

mais aview on line 4 4 lnFig. 3, partly in section and partly inside elevation.

of a lake, river or other A preferred and typical embodiment oi the present invention ls illustrated in the drawing. is therein generally indicated at Il, and is shown as being used in conjunction with an outboard motor I I of conventional design and which motor I I is shown as being attached, by suitable clamping means I2 to the rear or stern wall or gunwale Il of a small boat Il, only part of which is shown.

The present invention contemplates the provision of a floatable or buoyant marker which will float upon the surface in the event that, for any reason, the outboard motor II becomes dislodged from its mounting on the rear wall or gunwale Il of the boat I4 and sinks to the bottom of the lake, river or other usually small body of water on which outboard motors and outboard motor boats are commonly used.

To this end I provide a small and preferably spherical iioatable or buoyant marker in the form of a body of cork or other buoyant material I5 which is normally housed in a container or casing which is generally indicated at It. The casing Il is relatively very small compared to the size of the outboard motor Il, as may be seen by an examination of Fig. l, it is preferably made of aluminum or other non-corrosive metal, and includes a body I1 which is generally cylindrical in shape. The upper end of the body I'I of the casing I6 is closed by an end wall I8 and the casing I6 has an open lower end or bottom I9 which is normally closed by a closure member 2U. I'he closure member 2II is removably mounted on the open lower end portion or bottom I9 of the body I1 of the casing by means of an annular flange 2| which is formed thereon and which has a tight slidable press fit and embraces the lower end portion of the wall of the body Il of the casing I6.

Extending through a diametrically extending opening 22 which is formed in the body of the iioatable or buoyant marker I5 is an end portion 23 of a exible element or cord 24 which is normally wound or coiled in the form of a cylindrical body which is normally housed in the body I1 of the casing I6; the end por-tion 23 of the cord or flexible element 2l being secured to the top of the floatable marker I5 in any suitable manner as, for example, by means of a knot 25 which is formed in the cord` 24 at the top of the oatable marker I5, as shown in Fig. 3, or otherwise.

'I'he lower end portion 26 of the flexible element or cord 24 is attached to an eye or eyelet 21 which is formed as a part of an attaching member 2l which is preferably formed as a metal stamping, this member 28 being soldered or otherwise secured in an opening 29 which is formed in the closure member 20 and has a water tight connection therewith.

The member- 28 also includes a second eye or eyelet 3|! which is arranged outside of or below the closure member 2D, rather than inside the same as is the eyelet 21, and one end portion of a flexible attaching element in the form of a chain 3| it attached to this eyelet 30, the other end portion of this flexible element or chain 30 being attached to a suitable part of the motor II as, for example, to a ring 32 which is slidably mounted upon the vertically-extending motorsupporting shaft 33 of the motor II.

Attached to and carried by the top wall I8 of the casing I8 is an eye bolt 34 which extends through an eye or opening 35 which is formed in a wall 35 of a clamping bracket 31 by means of which the casing I6 is removably attached or clamped to the rear wall I3 of the boat I4.

The clamping bracket 31 is preferably formed of one piece of metal and includes a U-shaped part (Fig. 3) which provides a pair of spaced parallel clamping jaws 33 and 33, and carried by the clamping jaw 33 is an adjustable clamping device or screw 40, of conventional design, and which is adapted to clampingly engage the rear wall I3 of the boat I4.

Operation The operation and manner of use of the present invention are as follows:

If the present invention is to be used merely as a marker for locating a lostor sunken motor in a relatively small body of water such as a small lake or river, the cord 24 may be made of relatively light material having a low tensile strength, whereas if the new device is tobe used not only for locating but also for retrieving a lost motor the cord or ilexible element 24 may be formed of cotton material which is preferably about 1F," in diameter and has a tensile strength of about ninety (90) pounds which is more than sufficient to support the average outboard motor since such motors usually weigh not in excess of about fty (50) pounds.

The floatable marker I is normally disposed in the upper part of the body I1 of the casing I6 and the cord or flexible element 24 is normally wound into the form of a cylindrical coil or body of the same which is arranged in the body I1 of the casing I5, below the floatable marker I5, and the closure member is normally mounted on the lower end portion of the body I1 of the casing I6 so as to close the open lower end thereof, as shown in Fig. 3, and thus provide a water tight casing IAS.

With the parts thus assembled, one end portion of the flexible element or small chain 3| may be attached to any suitable part of the outboard motor II, as by means of a ring 32 which is attached to one end portion of the flexible element or chain 3I, this ring 32 being slidably mounted on the vertically extending motor-supporting shaft 33 of the motor II (Fig. 1). I'he casing I5 may then be suspended vertically from its clamping and supporting bracket 31 at the rear of the rear wall I3 of the boat I4, the bracket 31 being clamped to the rear wall I3 of the boat I4 by the clamping jaw 38 and the adjustable clamping device or screw 40 (Fig. 3).

Accordingly, when the parts of the new device have thus been assembled, and the device mounted in the manner hereinbefore describedand as shown in the drawing, if and when, for any reason, the outboard motor I I is torn loose from, or for any reason, becomes dislodged from its mounting upon the boat II, as occasionally happens. and drops into the lake, river or other re1- atively small body of water on which such motors are commonly used, the weight of the falling or sinking motor will slide the closure member 20 oil' from the lower end portion of the body I1 of the casing I6 and as the motor II and the closure member 20 sink the flexible element or cord 24 will gradually pay out or unwind from the coil or cylindrical form in which it is normally wound so that when the cord 24 has been completely paid out or unwound it will pull the floatable marker I5 out of the body I1 of the casing I6, through the open end I9 thereof, and into the water.

It will be noted, in this connection, that the cord or iiexible element 24 is made long enough to enable it to extend from the surface to the bottom of small lakes, rivers and like small bodies of water on which outboard motors are commonly used.

It will be seen, therefore, that when the motor II and the closure member 20 sink, and the cord 24 pays out or unwinds and withdraws the oatable marker I5 from the body I1 of the casing I6, the marker I5 will, by reason of its buoyant nature, iloat upon the surface of the river, lake or other relatively small body of water in which the outboard motor II has sunk and hence the marker I5 will thus indicate or mark the position of the sunken motor II'.

It will be noted, in this connection, that if the device is intended to be used only as a marker, and the cord 24 is not heavy or strong enough to lift the sunken motor, the latter may, of course, be recovered in other ways as, for example, by the use of a rope or chain having grappling hooks attached thereto, whereas the cord or iiexible element 24 may also, as hereinbefore stated, be made strong or heavy enough to lift the sunken motor II, if the lifting operation be done carefully and'without sudden or violent pulls on the line 24.

It has been found to be impractical for the user of the new device to attempt to rewind or coil the exible element or cord 24 after the latter has once been paid out in use, so that when the sunken motor has been recovered, the end portions 23 and 26 of the flexible element or cord 24 may be detached from the iiotatable marker I5 and the eyelet 21 and a new cord or flexible element in the form of a cylindrical coil or body thereof substituted in its place and its end portions attached to the iioatable marker I5 and the eyelet; 21. The new or replacement oord 24, together with the float I5, may then be inserted into the body I1 of the casing IS through the open end I9 thereof, whereupon the closure member 23 may be replaced in position of use upon the open end portion I3 of the casing I6 so as to close the same, thus rendering the device again ready for use It will be seen, therefore, from the foregoing description, in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, that the present invention provides a relatively simple, inexpensive and efllcient device for attachment to an outboard or small portable marine motor and boat and by means of which such an outboard motor may readily be located or located and recovered, as hereinbefore explained, if, for any reason, it becom dislodged from the boat on which it is normally mounted and sinks in a relatively small lake, river or other relatively small body of water on which outboard motors and outboard motor boats are commonly used.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred form of construction for carrying my invention into effect, this is capable of variation and modication, without departing from the spirit of the invention. I, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth. but desire to avail myself of such variations and modifications as come within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

l. In a device of the character described, the combination of: a casing including a body having an opening formed therein. a closure member normally mounted upon the said casing body so as to close the said opening therein but saidclosure member being adapted to be withdrawn from the body of the said casing so as to uncover the said opening therein, a iioatable member normally disposed in the said body of the said casing. but adapted to be withdrawn therefrom through the said opening therein, a flexible element having its major portion normally wound into a coil thereof and said coil being normally arranged in the said body of the said casing, said flexible element having a portion attached to the said oatable member and having a portion thereof attached to the said closure member, a second flexible element having a portion thereof attached to the said closure member and having a portion provided with means for attaching it to an outboard motor, and means for attaching the body of the said casing toan outboard motor boat.

2. The device which is defined in claim one (1) and in which the body of the said casing is generally cylindrical in form and has an open lower end, and in which the said closure member has an annular flange which is slidably mounted on the lower end portion of the said body of the casing by means of a tight or press t therewith so as to close the said open lower end thereof.

3. The device which is denned in claim one (l) and in which the body of the casing is generally cylindrical in form and has an open lower end, and in which the said closure member has an annular flange which is slidably mounted on the lower end portion of the body of the casing by means-of a tight or press fit therewith so as to close the said open lower end of the body of the said casing, and in which the means for attaching the body of the said casing to an outboard motor boat is designed and adapted to suspend the body of the said casing in a substantially vertical position from, and rearwardly of, the rear or stern wall of said outboard motor boat.

4. The device which is defined in claim one (l) and in which the body of the casing is generally cylindrical in form and has `an open lower end, and in which the said closure member has an annular ange which is slidably mounted on the lower end portion of the body of the casing by means of a tight or press fit therewith so as to close the said open lower end of the body of the said casing, and in which the means for attaching the body of the said casing to an outboard motor boat is designed and adapted to suspend the body of the said casing in a, substantially vertical position from, and rearwardly of, the rear or stern wall of said boat, and in which the said iioatable member is disposed above the said coil in the body of the said casing.

5. In a device of the character described, the

combination of: a casing including a body lnving an opening formed therein, a closure menber removably mounted on the body of the said calingsoasnormallytoclosethesaidopeningthsein. a iioatable member normally arranged in the body of the said casing but adapted to be withdrawn therefrom through the said opening therein, a flexible element having its maior portion normally wound into a coil and said coil bdng normallydisposedinthebodyofthesaidcasing between the said opening therein and the nid iioatable member, said flexible element having a portion attached to the said doatabie manber and having another portion attached to the nid closure member and means for the closure member with an outboard motor.

6. In a device of the character described. the combination of: a casing including a body having an opening formed therein, a closure menber removably mounted on the body of the said casing so as normally to close the said opening therein. a floatable member normally arranged in the iiiodyofthesaidcasillgbili;adaliiedt!)lilie'ltl'idrawn therefrom through the said opening thencin, and a nexible element having its major portion normally wound into a coil and said cdl being normally disposed in the body of the said casing between the said opening therein and the said iioatable member, said flexible element having a portion attached to the said iioatable menber and having another portion attached to the said closure member, and a second flexible element arranged outside of the said casing and having a portion thereof attached to the said closure member and provided with means for attaching it to an outboard motor.

7. The device defined in claim iive (5) in which the body of the said casing is generally cylindrical in form and in which the said opening therein is formed in the lower end thereof. and in which the said flexible element is normally wound into the form of a substantially cylindrical body or coil thereof.

8. In a device of the character described. the combination of: a. casing including a body lnving an opening formed therein, a closure member removably mounted on the body of the said casing so as normally to close the said opening therein, a iioatable member normally arranged in the body of the said casing but adapted to be withdrawn therefrom through the said opening therein, and a flexible element having its maior portion normally wound into a coil and said coil being normally disposed in the body of the said casing between the said opening therein and the said iioatable member, said flexible element having a portion attached to the said iioatable meinber and having another portion attached to the said closure member, a second flexible element arranged outside of the said casing and having a portion thereof attached to the said closure member and having means for attaching it to an outboard motor, and means including a clamping device for attaching the body of the said casing to an outboard motorboat.

9. In a device ofthe character described. the combination of'. a casing including a body having an opening formed therein, a closure member removably mounted on the body of the said casing so as normally to close the said opening therein. a iioatable member normally arranged in the body of the said casing but adapted to be withdrawn therefrom -through the said opening therein, and a flexible element having its major portion normally wound into a coil and said coil beportion thereof attached to the said closure member and having means for attaching it to an outboard motor, and means including a clamping device for suspending the body oi' the said casing from the rear or stern wall of an outboard motorboat.

LEROY A. DALY. 

